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The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

fortune.com

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Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#41
post #26

The economics of airplane wifi remind me of the economics of the hotels wifi. Go to a 5-star hotel and you will pay 15 extra dollars for the priviledge of having a lousy internet access. Go to a small hostel and you will get good internet access for free.

Marriott are throwing in wifi these days, but you have to pay for premium access if you want to stream some Netflix

What's the speed cap?

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Norwegian makes you pay for water.

Seems fine by me, since I can bring my own water but not my own WiFi :)

The TSA would have a field day with all your cavities if you try to even so much as bring more than an ounce over three through airport security. Good old USA!

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#44
post #26

The economics of airplane wifi remind me of the economics of the hotels wifi. Go to a 5-star hotel and you will pay 15 extra dollars for the priviledge of having a lousy internet access. Go to a small hostel and you will get good internet access for free.

Marriott are throwing in wifi these days, but you have to pay for premium access if you want to stream some Netflix

> Marriott are throwing in wifi these days, but you have to pay for premium access if you want to stream some Netflix

Note that this is after Marriott's best efforts to block all wifi hotspots to force guests to use hotel wifi:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/10/after-blocking-pe...

edit: a story from after Marriott unsuccessfully asked the FCC if hotel operators could block wifi hotspots on their properties from all their guests: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/01/fcc-blocking-wi-f...

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#45
post #15

Does anyone really expect anything of airline flights anymore? At least those of us in commercial/economy class? Years ago great customer service was defined as giving someone the can and some free peanuts. Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. So I just pick the cheapest flights available. Sure, Wi-Fi is a plus, but the envir…

Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems"... Enjoy that while it lasts. United is moving to a BYOD system where you use your own phone or tablet to watch in-flight entertainment. The new cabins have removed all screens and armrest audio systems (oh yeah, and headphones too) http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ente...

But do they provide charging ports or outlets?

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#46
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Marriott are throwing in wifi these days, but you have to pay for premium access if you want to stream some Netflix

> Marriott are throwing in wifi these days, but you have to pay for premium access if you want to stream some Netflix Note that this is after Marriott's best efforts to block all wifi hotspots to force guests to use hotel wifi: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/10/after-blocking-pe... edit: a story from after Marriott unsuccessfully asked the FCC if hotel operators could block wifi hotspots on their properties…

No, that was one single Marriott and it was the conference center -- they were trying to force exhibitors to pay outrageous internet fees, not hotel guests.

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#47
post #32

The economics of airplane wifi remind me of the economics of the hotels wifi. Go to a 5-star hotel and you will pay 15 extra dollars for the priviledge of having a lousy internet access. Go to a small hostel and you will get good internet access for free.

It's the same reason that hotel minibar pricing is so high.

Don't worry, minibars are dying too: http://priceonomics.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-hotel-mini-...

It's hard to keep that level of pricing with convenience stores nearby and more and more companies unwilling to reimburse for the minibar.

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#48
post #15

Does anyone really expect anything of airline flights anymore? At least those of us in commercial/economy class? Years ago great customer service was defined as giving someone the can and some free peanuts. Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. So I just pick the cheapest flights available. Sure, Wi-Fi is a plus, but the envir…

> Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. I couldn't disagree more. A fourteen-hour flight with in-flight movies is vastly superior to a fourteen-hour flight with the back of the seat in front of you.

Well, we've had movies on airplanes for a long time. And I agree it makes things marginally more bearable.

But just because they've moved it from a shared television on the aisle/ceiling that everyone had to lean out to watch from to a little touch-screen in front of a chair hasn't really changed the fact that flying is a waste of time. And very uncomfortable.

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#49
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Marriott are throwing in wifi these days, but you have to pay for premium access if you want to stream some Netflix Note that this is after Marriott's best efforts to block all wifi hotspots to force guests to use hotel wifi: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/10/after-blocking-pe... edit: a story from after Marriott unsuccessfully asked the FCC if hotel operators could block wifi hotspots on their properties…

No, that was one single Marriott and it was the conference center -- they were trying to force exhibitors to pay outrageous internet fees, not hotel guests.

The fine was for disrupting wifi hotspots in the convention space at a single Marriott, but Marriott then petitioned the FCC to allow them to do the same for any guest on their property, including properties without convention spaces[1]. The FCC turned them down.

(I've amended my original post to include a link from the conclusion of the whole affair)

[1] http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=60000986872

Re: The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi

#50
post #15

Does anyone really expect anything of airline flights anymore? At least those of us in commercial/economy class? Years ago great customer service was defined as giving someone the can and some free peanuts. Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. So I just pick the cheapest flights available. Sure, Wi-Fi is a plus, but the envir…

Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems"... Enjoy that while it lasts. United is moving to a BYOD system where you use your own phone or tablet to watch in-flight entertainment. The new cabins have removed all screens and armrest audio systems (oh yeah, and headphones too) http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ente...

In seat electronics adds a couple pounds and inch or two of seat width. Either saves the airlines a lot.
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